Cricket We're a group of mates having fun, says skipper Brook

ENGLAND captain Harry Brook praised the unity of his “group of mates” after sealing his second series win in just 11 days in charge.

- Rory DOLLARD

Brook has won five on the bounce against the West Indies since taking over from Jos Buttler, sweeping the tourists 3-0 in the ODI leg and going 2-0 up with one to play in the T20s.

England did not have it easy in Sunday's four-wicket win at Bristol, with the asking rate climbing past 11 an over at one stage as they chased down a stiff target of 197.

But they stuck together to get over the line, with five of their top six making handy contributions before Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton took the bull by the horns. The middle-order duo hammered 56 off just 21 deliveries between them to puncture the West Indian resistance and keep the good times rolling for Brook.

It was the kind of game England were losing in the difficult final days under Buttler, whose reign ended with eight straight defeats across both formats.